The atmosphere in the ballroom suddenly shifted as everyone stopped what they were doing and turned their attention to the hosts of the night. Luke and Chloe did the same too, watching as David Reyes and Lucille descended the staircase together, greeting guests with smiles and welcome. David was wearing a tuxedo with tailored sharp lines which Chloe knew was Lucille’s choosing, she dressed his dad with designer brands from head to foot, polishing his look for her own display. David never likes the sparkles of clothes and jewelry, he usually wears boring old suits which garners a hefty comment from her stepmother, but tonight they complimented each other’s look which was intentional. Lucille’s gown was a couture of a popular designer; it has a rich navy fabric that has a mesmerizing effect. Her dress flowed gracefully as she walked through the crowd capturing their attention towards her. She also added a massive piece of jewelry hanging on her neck and ears, Lucille
Chloe was blinded by the massive lights from the reflector and the non-stop shutter of the camera, Lucille’s store set up a temporary studio so they could do photoshoots for her new collection. It was buzzing with activity as the crew members set up the needed devices, while the others meticulously created the set for the agreed concept, the backdrop had the details that made Chloe appreciate their creativity. Chloe had been there for almost three hours now, the hair and makeup took a while, mirroring the story that the photographer wanted to capture. She breathed in and out trying to calm herself. “This is too much of a hassle,” she thought.Ryan, a renowned photographer, was consumed in his little world while he fine-tuned the lighting and experimented with different angles to achieve his goal, he is still deciding whether he should be using soft diffused light, or dramatic shadows to add depth to his photos, after everything was in place the photoshoot be
In a cozy hotel bar, Martin sat, his hand wrapped around a glass filled with whiskey on ice. His breathing ragged while he managed the turmoil within him. With each sip, his face savors the alcohol slipping through his throat, warming his body. Napatingin si Martin sa nakahelerang mamahaling mga bote ng ibat-ibang klase ng alcohol sa may estante. In front was the bartender standing there confidently, greeting the other guests and taking their orders. This was the same bar where Ruby and he spent time, away from the prying eyes of other people. This place is superb in maintaining privacy. With the sound of the clinking glass and the subtle laughter from behind him, Martin groaned, he missed Ruby, he missed her scent, the feel of her soft lips. This place brought him sanctuary and memories of everything they planned together. He closed his eyes and remembered the very first time his eyes laid upon her haunting beauty. It was a get-together event in the Ramirez manor, all the business
Lucille received non-stop calls from her publisher about the negative media attention surrounding her clothing line. A nasty comment had gained a lot of traction online, and many people had joined in, amplifying the criticism. Now, things were escalating out of control. Despite having the Reyes surname associated with her business, Lucille's current standing in the industry remained fragile. Her business was still relatively new and unknown. This was the price she had to pay for being the second wife; her credibility was now in question, tarnishing her reputation. She bit her lip, trying to contain her anger at the situation. A knock on her office door snapped her back to reality. Lucille made her way to the door and opened it, accepting a package from her secretary with a raised eyebrow. She opened the package, curious about its contents and who it was from. But when she saw what was inside, she suddenly threw it aside, her heart pounding louder and louder in her chest. Who would d
When Chloe entered the familiar confines of their house, she suddenly felt a sense of belongingness, ito ang bahay kung saan siya lumaki, lahat ng anggulo ng kanilang mansiyon ay kabisado niya, this was her playground when she was just a little girl. She closed her eyes, greeted by the same scent she was used to. Trailing the living room of their old home Chloe could see the same marble polished against time. It was nostalgic, all her memories came back to life. She just loved the natural light hitting brightly through the massive glass window, she smiled, and they still used the sheer curtains that her father liked. Not much had changed with the furniture and its arrangement, the soft sofa was still there with a cozy armchair that overlapped the window, except for the old coffee table, that was adorned with books and other trinkets, that one was gone, Chloe realized. It’s like time went still from the last time she was here. When she made her presence known at the Reyes mansion she
Isang matunog na tawa ang namamayagpag ng biglang hindi mapigilan ni Martin ang kanyang sarili. He was sitting right across from Lucille Reyes and listening to her story intently as it completed the puzzle that had burdened his mind for some time. The investigation that he had for that mysterious woman on the night of the accident came to light after the report was out and he stumbled upon Chloe Reyes and her relationship with her stepmother Lucille who very interestingly owns the clothing line that Ruby is modeling currently. Too much of a coincidence. Hindi mapagtanto ni Martin ang kanyang swerte ng hindi man lang naging mahirap sa kanya ang pakikipag-ugnayan kay Lucille and set this meeting up, he anticipated a little bit of resistance and caution from this woman but apparently, she was equally curious about Ruby Ramirez too, na parang bang hinihintay niya ang pagkakataong ito. "Kaano ano ka ulit ni Ruby?" Lucille asked while sipping her hot coffee. "You can say we are close fri
Rebecca paused and met her eyes. "Well, I guess I just want to talk to you since we do share something in common. Our beloved Luke..." she smiled abruptly. "The connection between us is undeniable, sharing the same man we both love, is just a profound thing, don't you think?" Chloe felt a sudden rush of heat on her cheek. She's provoking her and so far, it's working. "Why are you doing this? When will you stop? How often must Luke turn you down until you realize your worth? You know he's married, right?" she tried to reason out. A sharp gaze went Chloe's way, but Rebecca was quick to hide it as a sultry laugh echoed in the bar loudly. It was a little showstopper that made Chloe check her surroundings, she breathed when no one paid attention. Madalang lang din ang tao sa mga oras na yun giving them their much-needed privacy. "You are such a hypocrite I can't believe it! And is it okay for you to take on the role of his wife? The damsel in distress, the poor girl in need? And you da
Chloe uttered softly as she tried not to prove her captors. She would try to play the innocent card until she could figure out how she could flee from this place. "When I woke up after the incident, I already had this face on me. I didn't know... they switched out bodies identifying me as Ruby," she uttered truthfully not breaking eye contact. "So, Luke knew all along that his wife was dead? Did he plan to have you assume Ruby’s role then?" Rebecca jumped into the conversation, and a hint of disgust registered on her face. Choe saw how Martin flinched. "He probably didn't know either. The rescuers, the medical team, they all just assumed I was Ruby Ramirez, and the one who died was Chloe," she explained, attempting to justify the confusion and divert Rebecca's attention away from involving Luke in the conversation. Napapikit ng mata si Chloe nang maramdaman niyang unti unting sumisikip ang mga kamay na nakahawak sa kanyang mukha ng biglang mabanggit ang pangalan ni Luke. "You shoul
Luke was certain that they had narrowly escaped death, and he felt immense relief when reinforcements finally arrived that night, securing the perimeter. Toni was swiftly taken to the hospital and received proper medical attention. Luke's parents were furious when they learned of the ordeal, and they made him promise never to put himself in harm's way again. He accepted their admonition and put the memory behind him. However, his bond with Toni endured. Even after Luke inherited his father's business, he ensured that Toni and his family were well taken care of. He offered Toni a job, and their friendship flourished over the years. As Luke's business expanded and he started his own family, his priorities shifted. His interactions with Toni became less frequent, but their mutual respect and trust never wavered. Despite the passage of time, their connection remained strong, a testament to the enduring bond forged in the crucible of adversity. "Utang ko sa yo ang buhay ko, kung sa hinah